Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for pilots in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 32,861 pilots currently employed in the United States.
- 29.3% of all pilots are women, while 70.7% are men.
- The average age of an employed pilot is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of pilots is White (81.5%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.2%), Unknown (5.6%) and Asian (2.8%).
- Pilots are most in-demand in Columbus, OH.
- The transportation industry is the highest-paying for pilots.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $118,389, the highest in the US.
- In 2021, women earned 94% of what men earned.
- 9% of all pilots are LGBT.
- Wyoming is the best state for pilots to live.
- Pilots are 66% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
Pilot Statistics By Gender
29.3% of pilots are women and 70.7% of pilots are men.
- Male, 70.7%
- Female, 29.3%
Pilots By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 70.7% |
| Female | 29.3% |
Gender Pay Gap For Pilot
Women Earn 94ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Pilot Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the pilot position over time.
Pilot Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.19% | 24.81% |
| 2011 | 82.81% | 17.19% |
| 2012 | 70.44% | 29.56% |
| 2013 | 78.23% | 21.77% |
| 2014 | 75.81% | 24.19% |
| 2015 | 78.14% | 21.86% |
| 2016 | 68.92% | 31.08% |
| 2017 | 70.61% | 29.39% |
| 2018 | 70.54% | 29.46% |
| 2019 | 74.51% | 25.49% |
| 2020 | 71.91% | 28.09% |
| 2021 | 70.65% | 29.35% |
Pilot Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, airline transport pilot and combat control have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Flight Attendant | 16% | 84% |
| International Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Pilot | 71% | 29% |
| Agricultural Aviation Pilot | 98% | 2% |
| Combat Control | 98% | 2% |
| Airline Transport Pilot | 98% | 2% |
Pilot Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among pilots is White, which makes up 81.5% of all pilots. Comparatively, there are 7.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 5.6% of the Unknown ethnicity.
- White, 81.5%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.2%
- Unknown, 5.6%
- Asian, 2.8%
- Black or African American, 2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Pilot Race
| Pilot Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 81.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.2% |
| Unknown | 5.6% |
| Asian | 2.8% |
| Black or African American | 2.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Pilot Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among pilots.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Pilot Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 87.49% | 2.29% | 1.42% | 6.31% |
| 2011 | 88.76% | 2.24% | 1.05% | 5.79% |
| 2012 | 87.96% | 2.82% | 1.58% | 5.65% |
| 2013 | 87.10% | 2.27% | 1.83% | 6.18% |
| 2014 | 87.70% | 2.46% | 1.61% | 5.91% |
| 2015 | 87.10% | 2.13% | 1.76% | 6.50% |
| 2016 | 86.38% | 1.88% | 1.67% | 6.88% |
| 2017 | 87.01% | 2.97% | 1.91% | 5.98% |
| 2018 | 85.31% | 2.16% | 1.99% | 7.52% |
| 2019 | 86.23% | 1.68% | 2.22% | 7.13% |
| 2020 | 82.65% | 2.54% | 2.81% | 7.49% |
| 2021 | 81.47% | 2.73% | 2.78% | 7.19% |
Pilot Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $84,372 |
| White | $82,434 |
| Black or African American | $79,527 |
| Asian | $69,030 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $76,918 |
Average Age of a Pilot
We determined the average age of pilots based on ethnicity and gender.
Pilot Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 44 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 46.5 | |
| Asian | 34 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 |
Pilot Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of pilot employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of pilots is 40+ years old, which represents 61% of the population.
Pilot Age
| Pilot Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 61% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 11% |
Types of Pilot Degree Levels
The most common degree for pilots is bachelor's degree 59% of pilots earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 15% and rounding it off is master's degree with 10%.
- Bachelors, 59%
- Associate, 15%
- Masters, 10%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 7%
Pilots By Education
| Pilot Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 59% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Masters | 10% |
| High School Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 7% |
Pilot Jobs You Might Like
Pilot Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $87,093 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $84,216 |
Pilot Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where pilots work. We found most pilots work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most pilots is the transportation industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire pilots.
Pilot Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 14% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 21% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 28% |
The Types Of Companies Pilot Work In
Employees with the pilot job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most pilots prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Pilot Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 25% |
| Private | 66% |
| Government | 7% |
Top Industries Hiring Pilots
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ pilots. Those industries include transportation, professional and technology.
Pilot Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 30% |
| Fortune 500 | 12% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Government | 6% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Media | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Energy | 3% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Pilot Turnover And Employment Statistics
Pilot Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of pilots changed.
- Unemployment rate
Pilot Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Pilot Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.56% |
| 2011 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | 2.30% |
| 2013 | 2.29% |
| 2014 | 2.11% |
| 2015 | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 0.95% |
| 2017 | 1.24% |
| 2018 | 0.65% |
| 2019 | 0.93% |
| 2020 | 1.69% |
| 2021 | 2.31% |
The Average Number of Years That Pilot Stay in a Job
By looking over 11,984 pilots resumes, we figured out that the average pilot enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 30%.
Pilot Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 29% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Pilots with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to pilots.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | 3.71% | 45,127 |
| Inspector Packer | 4.53% | 33,923 |
| Service Porter | 4.91% | 10,027 |
| Pilot | 8.59% | - |
| Traffic Controller | 13.04% | 17,859 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Purser | 31.52% | 1,429 |
Pilot LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | 3.71% | 45,127 |
| Inspector Packer | 4.53% | 33,923 |
| Service Porter | 4.91% | 10,027 |
| Traffic Controller | 13.04% | 17,859 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Purser | 31.52% | 1,429 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Pilots
The most common foreign language among pilots is Spanish at 47.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.7% and German is the third-most popular at 5.7%.
- Spanish, 47.3%
- French, 11.7%
- German, 5.7%
- Japanese, 5.3%
- Portuguese, 4.3%
- Other, 25.7%
Pilot Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 47.3% |
| French | 11.7% |
| German | 5.7% |
| Japanese | 5.3% |
| Portuguese | 4.3% |
| Other | 25.7% |
